2025 marks Brandi Carlile’s twentieth year as a recording artist and, after many high profile collaborations, ”Returning to Myself,” as the title suggests, finds her looking inward, examining a complex journey of self-discovery.
Of some of the more politically oriented songs on the album Carlile says “We’re humans, We’re here for just this blink of an eye. We have to find a way to be happy regardless. I don’t think that that’s neoliberal or centrist I just think it’s human."
The album showcases a diverse sonic palette, thanks in part to different producers, including Aaron Dessner, Andrew Watt and Justin Vernon. They bring out what has always been a constant in her music, her raw emotion.
Brandi Carlile has won five Grammy Awards, was nominated for an Oscar put out an album with
Elton John, appeared on the Barbie movie soundtrack, produced music for artists including Joni Mitchell, Brandy Clark, Tanya Tucker and Lucius, all since her last album. “Returning to Myself” is a way of getting back to the relatively intimate nature of her music.